Ryan quashes rumours he is to leave football

LURGAN man Ryan Henderson feels he is being misrepresented considering some fans are suggesting he has sent a subtle message to Armagh boss Paul Grimley he would like to get back into the squad.

Linfield midfielder Henderson has put the record straight with the Mail saying he is concentrating fully on his football career at Windsor Park.

“Off course at times I miss gaelic football. It’s an exciting sport, but I trained with Linfield on Monday night for the first time in three months and I am contracted to the club until the summer of 2014. So there will be choices to be made both for myself and Linfield at this stage.

Since October the former Clann Eireann player has been suffering from an uncommon injury called hamstring tendinopathy which can effect long distant runners. He has been receiving treatment at Windsor Park for the injury, but things would appear to be looking up and he is determined to get back into the first team.

With Armagh facing Wexford at the weekend supporters will remember Ryan Henderson’s record breaking tally of 4-03 hit against the Leinster men in the 2009 league season, but being thrown into the limelight lately unnerved the Lurgan man who added, “I feel I am a lot more mature now, back in those days you looked at things differently. Being thrown into the spotlight so suddenly can be a bit unnerving. I believe I have become mentally and physically stronger since then.

“There has been no hint to Paul Grimley subtly or otherwise from me,” stressed Ryan.” With all options on the table next summer Ryan will be left with a choice. He can continue playing with Linfield or another club in the Irish League or go back to Clann Eireann and put himself in the shop window for possible county selection. He does however believe that Armagh should have a more proactive approach in promoting success sooner rather than later.

Paul Grimley’s recent comments that it could take four or five years to bring Armagh back to the top despite being possibly realistic have surprised Ryan who said, ”Every player wants to win things otherwise what’s the point in playing. I can understand Paul Grimley’s comments but sometimes you are better focusing on the short term as Jim McGuinness did with Donegal. Players’ careers can change dramatically over a period of four or five years, some get injured others drop out. It can be like a revolving door at times, but when a player joins a county squad and dedicates himself and makes the sacrifices winning trophies is the priority.”

The former Armagh player stressed there will be no chance of him playing in this season’s Intermediate derby for Clan Eireann against Clan na Gael .“We get a three or four week break at Linfield over the closed season any anyway under my contract I would be ruled out of playing other sports. “Last season was different as I played against the Clans in a league game came before things were finalised at Linfield.”

So is Ryan Henderson ruling himself out of one day returning to the Armagh squad if selected? “I will have a look at things in the summer of 2014 and see what is on the table. Rumours that I wasn’t making the cut at Linfield or that I was sending out a message to Paul Grimley are unhelpful. “I have been injured for over three months and now I am looking forward to getting back to first team football with Linfield.”

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